Bottom gluing and fluting mechanism for paper container making machines



Oct. 1955 B. A. WITTKUHNS ET AL 2,719,465

BOTTOM GLUING AND FLUTING MECHANISM FOR PAPER CONTAINER MAKING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. BRUNO A. W1 7/ KUHNS GILBERT F. HILL Oct. 4, 1955 B. A. WITTKUHNS ET AL BOTTOM CLUING ANlJ FLU'IING MECHANISM FOR PAPER CUN'lAINL-IR MAKING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Juno 16, 1953 INVENTORS. BRUNO A. W/TTKUHNS.

G/LBEETF HILL. BY

ATTORNEY? 1955 a. A. WITTKUHNS ET AL 2,719,465

BOTTOM GLUING AND FLUTING MECHANISM FOR PAPER CONTAINER MAKING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTORS, BRUNO 4. WI TI'KUHNS,

GIL BE/W' F'H/LL BY UTUR/VEY Oct. 4, 1955 w u s ET AL 2,719,465

BOTTOM GLUING AND FLUTING MECHANISM FOR PAPER CONTAINER MAKING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR5- BRUNO f7 W/TTKUHMS GIL BERT F. HILL.

Oct 4, 1955 B. A. WITTKUHNS ET AL 2,719,465

BOTTOM CLUING AND FLU'IING MECHANISM FOR PAPER CONTAINER MAKING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A .6. 446 INVENTORS.

H n BRUNO W/TTKUHNS.

G LBEET F- H LL United States PatentO BOTTOM GLUIN G AND FLUTING MEGHAN-ISM FOR PAPER CONTAINER MAKING MAQHINES Bruno A. Wittkuhns, Summit, and Gilbert F. Hill, Madison, N. J.

Application June 16, 1953, Serial No. 370,768 7 Claims. (Cl, 93-36) The present invention relates generally to machines for making paper containers, and more particularly is directed to an improvedmechanism for applying glue to the bottom portions of container bodies, for fluting the neck portions of the container bodies and for shaping the mouth ends of the container bodies in machines of the described character, and further is a division of our copending and prior filed application, Serial No. 223,011, filed April 26, 1951', for Machine for Making Paper Containers.

Paper containers have, prior to this invention, been made in various shapes and forms for holding milk, fruit juices and other liquid or free flowing materials. Certain of these previous paper containers have been formed to the general shape of glass bottles, that is, a shape or form including a cylindrical lower portion and a truncated conical, contiguous neck portion. Paper containers having the described shape are particularly desirable and convenient for the packaging and transportation or delivery of milk and other liquid products since such containers are suited for filling on existing standard glass bottle filling equipment and rnay be conveniently grasped and carried at the truncated neck portion thereof As shown in the co-pending applications of Bruno A. Wittkuhns, H. George D. Nutting and Gilbert P. Hill, Serial No. 85,781, filed April 6, 1949, now U. S. Patent No. 2,642,785, Serial No. 85,782, filed April 6, 1949, now U. S. Patent No. 2,642,784, and Serial No. 85,783, filed April 6, 1949, now U. S. Patent No. 2,674,929, paper containers simulating the shape of glass bottles may each be formed from a rectangular blank and a curved blank, cut from respective continuous webs or strips of paper, and

paired for winding together into a container body of double-pl y construction, with the curved blank providing the truncated conical neck portion of the body and being interleavened during the winding operation with the rectangular blank which forms the cylindrical portion in a manner to form a mid-sectional joint. The paper plies forming the container body are bonded together by an adhesive layer sandwiched therebetween, and the contracted end of the neck portion is spun over and shaped to form a reinforced mouth at that end of the container body for supporting and retaining a removable closure, while the large or bottom end of the container body is closed by a. bottom disc having a depending marginal skirt which is spun inwardly together with the adjacent end portion of the container body to form a rolled bead sealing the bottom of the container body and providing a reinforced supporting base. In order to stiffen or strengthen the neck portion and to shape it for closely simulating the corresponding part of a glass bottle, the neck portion is formed With a plurality of longitudinal flutes extending from above the midsectional seam to the reinforced mouth.

A machine of the kind to which the present. invention relates comprises a first blank preparing assembly for successively cutting curved or arcuate blanks from a continuous web or strip of paper, for separating the cut arcuice ate blanks from the remainder or waste of the paper web or strip, and for applying adhesive to suitable areas of each arcuate blank and crimping the trailing end port-ion of the blank as the latter is fed or transported to a winding station; and a second blank preparing assembly, operating in synchronism with the first blank preparing assembly, for applying printed matter to a continuous Web or strip of paper at suitably spaced locations along the length thereof, tor successively cutting the printed web or strip along spaced transverse lines to provide rectangular blanks and simultaneously crimping the trailing end portion of each rectangular blank, and for applying adhesive to a suitable area of each rectangular blank while feeding or transporting such blank to the winding station in paired relation'to a corresponding arcuate blank. Such a machine further includes a first mandrel supporting conveyor, preferably in the form of a turret, which is indexed periodically and in synchronism with the first and second blank preparing assemblies to carry the plurality of mand rels successively to and from dwelling position at a plurality of operating stations disposed at spaced apart locations along the path of travel of the mandrels, as defined by the movement of the turret. These operating stations in the order in which they are arranged include the winding station at which devices are located for winding each pair of arcuate and rectangular blanks fed thereto onto the mandrel then in dwelling position at the winding station to form a wound container body on the mandrel; a pressing station having a device located thereat for pressing the wound container body on the mandrel in dwelling position at the pressing station to compress the midsectional seam and the longitudinal seam of the truncated conical portion ofthe container body and thus provide a secure bond, a mouth spinning station at which devices are located for spinning engagement with the contracted end of the container body on the mandrel in dwelling position at the spinning station to form a reinforcing rolled head at the mouth of the container body; and a stripping station at which devices are located for removing the container body axially from the mandrel in dwelling position at the stripping station. In order to facilitate the spinning operations which form the reinforcing beads at the. mouth end and base end of the container body and to prevent burning of the latter during such operations, a parafhn applying unit is arranged adjacent the path of travel of the mandrels, between the pressing and mouth spinning stations, for depositing small quantities of paratfin onto each container body, adjacent the opposite endsthereof, as the supporting mandrel is being indexed to the mouth spinning station. Each machine of the described character still further includes a second conveyor, preferably in the form of a turntable, which carries a series of container body receiving cells successively to and from dwelling position at a plurality of operating stations arranged at spaced apart locations along the path of travel of the cells, as defined by the movement of the turntable. The operating stations associated With the cell carrying turntable, inthe order in which they are arranged, include a loading station aligned with the stripping station associated with the turret so that a cell dwelling at the loading station is in position to receive a container body as the latter is removed from its supporting mandrel; a fluting, mouth shaping and glue applying station at which devices embodying the present invention are located for simultaneously forming longitudinal flutes in the neck portion of the container body in the cell dwelling at the related station, initially shaping the bead at the mouth of that container body so that a removable closure wilt be retained therein, and applying glue to the inner surface of that container body adjacent the base end thereof; a bottom punching and inserting station at which devices are located for punching circular blanks from a continuous web or strip of paper, forming each circular blank into a bottom member of cup-like configuration and inserting the formed blank into the bottom end of the container body in the cell dwelling at the bottom punching and inserting station so that the skirt or marginal wall portion of the bottom member engages against the band of adhesive applied to the container body at the preceding station, and for completing the shaping of the bead at the mouth of the container body in the cell dwelling at the bottom punching and inserting station; a bottom spinning station at which devices are located for spinning engagement with the bottom end of the container body to roll the bottom end portion together with the skirt of the bottom member inwardly thus sealing the bottom of the container body and forming a reinforcing and supporting base for the container body, and for supporting the bottom member in position within the container body carried by the cell dwelling at the bottom spinning station during the performance of the bottom spinning operation; and an ejecting station at which devices are located M for pneumatically removing the container body from the cell dwelling at the ejecting station.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a a machine of the described character capable of producing paper containers automatically, economically and without imperfections at high production speeds.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the described character wherein the device for applying glue to the inner surface of each container body adjacent the base end of the latter includes a glue applicator movable into and out of the successive container body receiving cells during residence of the latter at the related station and glue dispensing means for transferring glue to the applicator, and wherein the glue dispensing means is displaceable to an inoperative position to prevent transfer of glue to the applicator so that, when the machine is operated initially and the cell residing at the glue applying station does not yet have a container body therein, the applicator does not d posit glue within the empty cell. 7

A specific object of the present invention resides in the provision of a machine of the described character including a container body supporting conveyor for moving the container body to and from dwelling position at a glue applying station, and a device at that station operative to apply a band of adhesive to the inner surface of a container body dwelling at the related station; the device including a resilient glue applicator member designed to reciprocate into and out of the container body, simplified means for circumferentially expanding the glue applicator member at the opposite limits of the reciprocating travel thereof, means for transferring a layer of adhesive to the perimeter of the glue applicator member during the latters residence at the limit of its reciprocating travel remote from the container body, means continuously urging the glue transferring meansto an inoperative position, electrically energized means for selectively displacing the glue transferring means to an op erative position, and means for automatically manipulating the glue applicator member into and out of the container body during the interval of dwell of the latter at the glue applying station.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the described character including a container body supporting conveyor for moving container bodies to and from dwelling position at a fiuting and mouth shaping station, and devices at the fiuting and mouth shaping station including a fiuting anvil designed to be reciprocated into and out of the container dwelling at said station through the base end thereof, mouth shaping anvil segments having head portions designed to be reciprocated into and out of the container body through the mouth end thereof, fiuting segments designed to be reciprocated between a position clear of the container body and a position enveloping the neck portion thereof,

pressure fluid operated means for manipulating the mouth shaping anvil segments and fiuting segments, force transmission means between the pressure fluid operated means and the mouth shaping anvil and fiuting segments for moving the segments into and around the container body dwelling at said station and including force amplifying link means for effecting radial movement of the anvil segments and fiuting segments into forming engagement with the mouth and neck portions, respectively, of the container body, and other fluid pressure operated means synchronized with the first mentioned fluid pressure operated means for moving the fiuting anvil into the container body just before the fiuting segments are radially closed against the neck portion of the latter.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are achieved by providing a machine of the described character having a turntable mounted to rotate in a horizontal plane, a series of container body receiving cells arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship around the peripheral portion of the turntable, at least a glue applying, fiuting and mouth shaping station adjacent the path of travel of the cells, and driving mechanism associated with the turntable to effect stage-by-stage advance of the cells to and from residence at that station; with devices at the glue applying, fiuting and mouth shaping station comprising mechanism supported above the turntable including a frame, a vertical shaft mounted on the frame for axial reciprocation, a fiuting anvil on the lower end of the shaft, pressure fluid actuated means operative in synchronism with the driving mechanism to effect the movement of the shaft from an inoperative position in which the anvil is raised above the base ends of container bodies in the cells to an operative position in which the anvil extends downwardly into a container body and then to return the shaft to its inoperative position during the residence of a cell at the related station, a glue applicator device on the shaft including a radially expansible and contractible tire member, the glue applicator device being movable during the residence of a cell at the related station between an inoperative raised position and an operative lowered position within a container received in the cell at the related station in response to movements of the shaft, means including the shaft for radially expanding the tire member during the positioning of the glue applicator device at its operative and inoperative positions, a clutch plate rotatably mounted adjacent the inoperative position of the glue applicator device for frictional contact with the latter, means for rotating the clutch plate during stage-by-stage advance of the cells, means movably supported adjacent the inoperative position of the glue applicator device for transferring glue to the periphery of the tire member, spring means normally urging the glue transferring means to a position remote from the tire member, and electrically energized means for selectively displacing the glue transferring means to a position for engagement with the tire member.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, a machine of the described character has mechanism supported below the turntable at the glue applying, fiuting and mouth shaping station, which includes a housing, a platform member mounted in the housing for vertical reciprocation, an upwardly opening cylindrical support member in the housing above the platform member, compression spring means interposed between the support member and platform member, a plurality of anvil segments resting on the bottom of the support member and formed to extend loosely into the month end of a container at the related station when the segments are radially contracted, resilient means for normally maintaining the anvil segments in their radially contracted condition, an arbor extending upwardly-from the platform member and having a conical end portion for insertion into a central space enclosed by the inner ends of the anvil segments, the support member being formed to telescope, when. raised, over the lower portion of a container body supported in a cell at the related station, a plurality of swaging elements swingably supported in the cylindrical support member, an outer casing fixed to the platform and telescoping over the cylindrical support member, toggle elements extending through the cylindri: cal, support member and hingedly connecting each of the swaging elements to the outer casing, the above mentioned compression spring means normally maintaining the support member and platform in vertically spaced relationship so that the arbor is withdrawn downwardly from said central space and the swag ing elements are swung outwardly, stop means at the top of the housing for limiting the upward movement of the support member, actuating members movable vertically in the housing, toggle means connecting said actuating members to the platform member and to the support member so that the platform and support members are moved upwardly as a unit when the actuating members are displaced upwardly until the support member engages the stop means and, thereafter, further upward displacement of the actuating members effects upward movement of the platform member relative to the support member with increased force, and pressure fluid operated means for manipulating the actuating members in synchronism with the driving mechanism so that the platform and support members are disposed in lowered position during stage-by-stage advance of the cells and are raised to operative positions and then lowered again during the residence of a cell at the related station.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of a specific embodiment, while the invention consists of the novel combinations, arrange ments of parts and details of construction set forth in the description and shown in the drawings and then more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a machine for making paper containers embodying the present invention wherein the container bodies are formed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, with the lower turret partly broken away, showing the several devices located below that turret;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a fluting and glue applying device included in the machine embodying the present invention, with the device being shown in its retracted condition;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, but with the device shown in its extended condition;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic, top plan view of a driving arrangement for a clutch element of the fluting and glue applying device of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a fluting and mouth shaping device, taken along the line Ill-10 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view of an element included in the fiuting and mouth shaping device of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a rear elevational view showing the mechanisni for actuating the fluting and mouth shaping device of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1, 2, 3..thereof, a machine 10 of the described character in which the container bodies are formed is there seen to in elude a substantially rectangular base 11 having two. upstanding support members 12 and 13 adjacent one end and a pedestal or support 14 substantially at the center of the front portion of the base. An L-shaped frame member 15 has one leg extending forwardly, or toward the viewer in Fig. 1, and mounted on the support members 12 and 13 and its other leg extending longitudinally of the base 11 to rest upon a lug 16 extending from pedestal 14.. The continuous paper strip or web from which the arcuate blanks are formed is stored in the form of a roll 17 which is rotatably mounted between brackets 18 extend ing forwardly from the support members 12 and 13. The paper strip is drawn ofi the top of roll 17' toward the rear and is fed to a curved blank cutting assembly which is mounted above the forwardly extending leg of frame 15 by an auxiliary frame part 19 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20.

Positioned after the curved blank cutting assembly 20, described above, is a separator assembly constructed to perform a dual function. The separator assembly 100 first serves to dispose of the paper scrap so that it will not interfere with the further advancing of the curved blanks, and also serves to advance and swing or turn the blanks to the required position for further movement along a conveyor to the winding station. It is necessary to swing or turn the curved blanks after they have been cut in order to satisfy the dual requirements of economy in the use of paper, that is, cutting the blanks from the paper strip so that a minimum of paper is wasted, and of efli ciency in holding the overall dimensions of the machine to a minimum for easy installation and servicing.

\ A conveyor assembly is mounted on the longitudinally extending leg of the frame 15 (Fig. 1) to receive the curved blank after the latter has been turned on the separator assembly 100 described above and then advance the curved blank tofthe winding station while glue is applied to selected areas of the blank and the trailing end portion is crimped.

Since the curved blank is destined to form the frustoconical neck part of the container and must be wound on the suitably tapered frusto-conical portion of the man drel 181 at the winding station, a problem is presented in feeding the curved blank to the tapering surface of the mandrel without twisting or warping the blank. This is accomplished by a turntable assembly which feeds the curved blank along a circular path in a. plane inclined relative to the horizontal so that the leading end of the blank tangentially approaches the mandrel at the bottom of the latter.

The operations of the cutting assembly, separator as sembly, conveyor assembly and turntable assembly are all integrated and synchronized to successively cut curved blanks and advance the same to the take-up or winding station in position for Winding 0n the frusto-conical portion of the mandrel 181 then residing at the winding station. While these assemblies are successively performing the respective functions, other mechanisms are simultaneously operating during each cycle to provide a suitably formed rectangular blank positioned at the winding station in proper relation to the curved blank for winding with the latter onto the mandrel to form the container body.

The mechanism for preparing the rectangular blanks for winding draws a continuous strip or web of paper from a roll, applies printed matter to the strip at suitably spaced locations, and then, during movement along a rectangular blank feeder or conveyor assembly 230 (Fig. 3), cuts the strip into rectangular sections or blanks while simultaneously crimping the trailing end portion of each blank, applies glue to the trailing half of the upper surface of each blank and forwards the glued blanks to the winding station while registering each blanklongit'udin-ally and laterally relative to the corresponding one of the curved or arcuate blanks and relative to the mandrel at the winding station. i a i The mechanism for preparing the rectangular blanks is carried by a cantilever support 214 extending rearwardly from the central support pedestal 14 (Fig. 3) and having brackets 215 at its rear end between which a roll of paper 216 is rotatably mounted. Upstanding frame members 217 and 218 are mounted on the cantilever support 214, adjacent the rear and forward ends, respectively, of the latter, and a printing unit 219 is positioned between these frame members.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, an upper turret assembly 272 is rotatably mounted on a turret supporting frame 273 which extends longitudinally of the base 11 and is supported at one end on the central pedestal 14 and at the other end on a frame member 274 extending upwardly from the base at the end of the latter remote from the cutting assembly 2%. For the present it is sufiicient to state that the turret is driven to provide for the rotation of the hub 276 through an angle of 90 for each cycle of the machine, with the hub being maintained for a predetermined interval at an indexed position during each cycle.

- A radially extending mandrel assembly 181 is mounted on each of the four fiat side faces of the hub 276 for swinging movement with the latter along an orbital path which lies in a vertical plane in front of the frame 273. The axis of rotation of the hub is disposed so that, when each mandrel assembly 181 reaches the horizontal position extending toward the conveyor assembly 130, that mandrel assembly is then at the winding station to have a rectangular blank paired with a curved blank wound thereon.

A winder assembly 294 (Fig. 2) is located at the winding station and operates to rotate the mandrel in residence at that station and to guide a pair of rectangular and arcuate blanks around the rotated mandrel to encase the latter in a container body of double layers of paper with an interlocked seam between the cylindrical and conical portions thereof.

After the paired rectangular and curved blanks have been wound upon the mandrel to form a container body encasing the mandrel shell, the turret is rotated 90 in a clock-wise direction as viewed from the front to next position the container body carrying mandrel at a pressing station, which station is located at the top center of the orbital path followed by the mandrels. A pressing assembly 330 (Fig. l) is disposed at the pressing station and operates on the container body carried by the mandrel in residence at the related station to press together the doubled layers of the curved blank forming the conical portion of the body and to press the lower edge of the curved blank onto the underlying portion of the rectangular blank forming the cylindrical portion of the body so that a secure and tight bond is obtained at the several seams and between the doubled layers.

From the pressing station the container body supporting mandrel is moved to a mouth forming station, by further rotation of the upper turret 272 through an angle of 90, at which station a rolled bead or rim is formed on the end of the conical portion of the container body by a spinning operation. However, in moving from the pressing station to the mouth forming station, each container body supporting mandrel 181 sweeps past a wax pot assembly 337 (Fig. l) which applies parafiin or wax to the container body adjacent its opposite ends to act as a lubricant during subsequent spinning operations.

A month spinner assembly 345 (Figs. 1 and 2) is located at the mouth forming station which is diametrically opposed to the winding station and operates to form a rolled bead or rim on the conical end of the container body carried by the mandrel then residing at the mouth spinning or forming station.

After the rolled bead or rim has been formed on the conical end of the container body to define a mouth, the upper turret 272 is further indexed through 90 to 8 position the container body supporting mandrel at a stripping or transfer station, at which station the mandrel extends vertically down from the turret hub. A transfer assembly 366 (Fig. l) is located at the stripping or transfer station to remove the container body from the mandrel at that station.

A lower turret assembly, generally indicated by the reference numeral 393 (Figs. 1 and 4), which receives the container body. at the stripping or transfer station includes a turntable having a circular table portion 394 and a depending, hollow base portion within which a king pin or fixed pedestal extends for rotatably supporting the turntable. The king pin extends vertically from the base 11 of the machine and is positioned so that the six equally spaced container body receiving cells, each generally indicated by the numeral 397 and mounted on the turntable, travel along a circular path which at the transfer station is in vertical alignment with a vertical line passing through the axis of rotation of the upper turret. While the drive of the upper turret is arranged to index it one-quarter of a revolution during each cycle of the machine, the drive of the lower turret assembly, having six equally spaced container body receiving cells 397, is arranged to index the turntable only one-sixth of a revolution during each cycle of the machine.

Each of the cells 397 is formed to receive a container body in inverted position and to prevent falling through of the body. The container body, when positioned in the cell, has its mouth end extending substantially below the turntable and its base end extending above the top surface of the turntable. Further, each cell 397 preferably includes clamping means for holding-the container body in the related cell and operative to produce a moderate clamping action when the cell is located at a glue applying, fiuting and mouth shaping station, and a strong clamping action while the cell is indexed to two subsequent stations at which a bottom is inserted in the sup ported container and the mouth end of the latter is further shaped or finished and at which the base end of the container and the bottom are rolled together in a spinning operation, while the clamping means are completely released during residence of the cell at a following ejection station and at the loading or transfer station.

After receiving the container body at the transfer station, indicated at A in Fig. 4, the lower turret is indexed one-sixth of a revolution, in a clockwise direction as viewed from the top, to position the container body supporting cell 397 at the fiuting, mouth shaping and glue applying station, indicated at B in Fig. 4. A glue applying and anvil assembly 416 (Figs. 2 and 5 to 9) is positioned above the turntable and a flute forming and mouth shaping assembly 417 (Figs. 4, 10 and 11) is positioned below the turntable at station B.

The assembly 416 includes a frame 418 which is substantially C-shaped and secured to the rear face of the frame 273 (Fig. 2) and has an air cylinder assembly 419 mounted on the top thereof with the vertical piston rod 420 of the air cylinder extending slidably through the horizontal flanges of the frame and carrying a flute forming anvil 421 at its lower end. A tubular shaft 422 is slidable freely on the piston rod 420 and has a stop collar 423 at its upper end to engage a bumper pad 424 on the top surface of the lower flange of the frame 418 for limiting the downward movement of the tubular shaft 422. A lower circular retainer or rim 425 is fixed to the lower end of the hollow shaft 422 while an upper retainer or rim 425 is positioned above the rim 425 and provided with projections extending inwardly through longitudinal slots in the hollow shaft 422 to slidably engage the piston rod 420 and to be movable axially relative to the lower rim 425. A glue applicator 427 in the form of a rubber ring is mounted between the upper and lower rims to be radially contracted when the rims are spaced relatively far apart and conversely to be radially expanded when the rims are urged axially together. In order to effect the expansion of the glue applicator ring 427 for depositing a band of glue on the inner surface of the container body adjacent its base or uppermost end as supported in the cell at station B a collar 428 is fixed on the piston rod 420 for movement with the latter within the hollow shaft 422. The collar 428 is positioned on the piston rod so that it engages the projections of the upper rim 426 before downward movement of the piston rod is completed and urges the upper rim toward the lower rim during the final incre ment of the down stroke of the piston rod while the lower rim is held immobile with the hollow shaft 422 by engagement of the collar 423 with the bumper 424 (Fig. 6). A coil spring 425 is interposed between the upper and lower rims 426 and 425, respectively, to continu: ously urge the rims apart for Contracting the glue applicator ring 427. Thus, the glue applicator may be moved downwardly into the container body in residence at the related station B without contacting the body and is expanded to apply glue to the inner surface of the container only after the length of the hollow shaft has established the vertical location of the applicator ring 427 and the piston rod 420 has undergone the final increment of its downward stroke.

When the piston rod is moved upwardly (Fig. during the return stroke of the air cylinder 419, a cushion 430 rotatable on the upper face of the anvil 421 engages the lower rim 425 and moves the lower rim, applicator ring, upper rim and hollow shaft upwardly until the upper rim 426 engages against the lower face of a clutch plate 431 of a clutch assembly which is rotatably mounted below the lower horizontal flange of the supporting frame 418. The clutch plate 431 has a spur gear 432 rotatable therewith and driven by another spur gear 433 mounted on a stub shaft 434 (Fig. 6) which is also provided with a sprocket 43.5. As seen in Fig. 8, the sprocket 435 is rotated by engagement with a driving chain 436 trained over the sprocket 435, an idler sprocket 437 and a driving sprocket 4:38 on the vertical shaft 439 effecting indexing movement of the upper turret, in a suitable manner, so that the clutch plate 431 is rotated only during the movement of the turrets from one position to the next indexed position. Since the upper rim 426 is restrained in its upward movement after contact with the clutch plate face 431, the final increment of the return stroke of piston rod 420 causes the anvil cushion 430 to press against and urge the lower rim toward the upper rim to once again radially expand the glue applicator ring.

A glue dispenser assembly(Figs. 5,. 7- and 9 is mounted on the frame 418 at a side of the raised position of the glue applicator ring 427 and includes a reservoir 441 having an opening 442 in the side thereof facing toward the path of the applicator ring, in which opening a dispensing roller 443 is rotatable With the. roller being resiliently urged outwardly by springs 443a to close the opening. When the applicator ring 427 is radially expanded in its raised position, the ring engages the dispensing roller 443 to move the latter inwardly so that glue may escape through the opening of the reservoir. Since the upper rim 426 effects intimate contact with the rotated clutch plate 431 when in its raised position, the upper and lower rim, hollow shaft 422 and applicator ring 427 are also rotated so that the glue escaping through the reservoir opening 442 is evenly spread on the surface of the applicatorqring 427.

Since it is desirable to interrupt the transfer of glue to the applicator ring 427 during initial operation of the machine, that is, when a container body has not yet been deposited in. the cell in residenceat the fluting, glue applying and mouth shaping station B, the glue dispensing asassembly 440 is mounted for lateral movement bodily toward and away from the operative position in which the dispensing roller 443thereofv is engageable bythe applicator ring 427. In order to provide for the bodily lateral movement of the glue dispensing assembly 440, the reservoir 441 is formed with lugs 444 (Fig. 7) at one side, which are pivotally mounted on the frame 418, and with an arm 445 extending from the other side for pivotal connection to an actuating link 446. A spring- 447 acts on the link 446 to continuously urge the link in the direction moving the glue dispensing assembly to its inoperative. position, and a solenoid 448 also acts on the link 446 to move the latter, when energized, in the direction displacing the glue dispensing assembly to its operative position,

The flow of compressed air to the air cylinder assembly 419 is controlled so that the latter effects a downward and upward return stroke during the residence of a container body carrying cell 397 at the related station B and retains the anvil and glue applicator in raised position clear of the lower turret or turntable during indexing of the turrets.

The assembly 417 (Figs. 4, 10 and 11) mounted below the turntable 394 at the fluting, glue applying and mouth shaping station E includes a frame 449 mounted on the base of the machine and having the sides: thereof cut out in line with the path of travel of the cells 397 to permit the lower portions of the cells and. the mouth ends of the container bodies supported therein, to pass through the frame when the turntable is indexed to and from the fluting, glue applying and mouth shaping station E. A swager assembly is mounted within the frame 499 for vertical movement and includes a body formed of a substantially cylindrical upper portion 450 and a cylindrical lower portion 451 joined to the upper portion 450 and of smaller diameter. An outer cylindrical or ring member 452 is slidable on the outside of the upper portion 450 of the body and is connected rigidly to a bottom plate 453 disposed below the lower body portion 451 by posts 454. Heavy compression springs 455 are positioned between the inner body portion 451 and the bottom plate 453 to resiliently urge the latter downwardly relative to the inner body. Diametrically opposed, grooved guide wheels 456 (Fig. ll) are rotatably mounted on the upper body portion 450 and ride on vertical guide shafts 457 extending within the frame 449 to guide the vertical movements of the swager assembly.

The lower inner body portion 451 is formed with radially extending lugs 458 to which triangular toggle links 459 are pivotally connected. Inner connecting links 460 are pivotally connected between each of the toggle links 459 and the outer ring 452 so that upward rocking of the toggle links will effect upward movement of the outer ring 452 and the bottom plate 453 relative to the inner body.

Twelve fluting fingers 461 are disposed in a circular series within the upper inner body portion 450 and are pivotally mounted at their upper ends for swinging from inoperative positions against the wall of the upper inner body portion inwardly to form inwardly pressed axial flutes in the neck portion of a container body surrounded by the upper inner body portion 450. Each fluting finger 461 is operatively connected by a link 462 to the outer ring 452 so that upward movement of the latter relative to the inner body effects inward swinging of the fluting fingers 461.

The upper inner body portion .450 also carries a group of radially expansible and contractible mouth shaping sector elements 463 shaped to extend loosely, when contracted, into the mouth of a container body extending into the upper body portion, and to form a circumferential groove in the internal surface of the mouth, when expanded, which groove is adapted to grip a closure cap in the mouth of the completed container. The mouth shaping sector elements 463 are resiliently urged to the contracted condition by a circumferen'tially disposed spring element 464 and are inclined at their inner ends to define an upwardly tapering conical space at the center of the. series of mouth shaping elements 463. In order to move the elements 463 to mouth shaping position, a rod 465 extends vertically from the base plate 453 and slidably through the lower body portion 451 and is formed with a conical upper end 466 extending into the space at the center of the mouth shaping elements 463. When the outer ring 452 and base plate 453 are moved upwardly relative to the inner body, the conical end 466 of the rod engages against the inner ends of the mouth shaping elements 463 and moves the latter outwardly by a wedging action to mouth shaping position, and when the outer ring and base plate drop relative to the inner body, the rod 465 is withdrawn from the central space of the series of mouth shaping elements 463 and the latter are contracted by the encircling spring 464.

In order to elfect vertical movement of the swager assembly and relative movement between the outer ring and base plate on the one hand and the inner body on the other hand, at the concluding portion of the upward stroke of the assembly, vertically movable gear racks 467 are mounted within the frame 449 and connected at the lower ends thereof to the outer corners of the toggle links 459 by pivoted links 468. Shafts 469 (Fig. 10) are rotatably mounted at the sides of the frame 449 and have spur gears 470' fixed thereon and meshing with the gear racks 467 so that rotation of the shafts 469 effects vertical movement of the gear racks.

When the gear racks 467 are displaced upwardly, the internal swager assembly is moved upwardly as a unit to envelope the neck and mouth portion of the container body supported in the cell in residence at the fluting, glue applying and mouth shaping station B. Before the gear racks 467 have completed their upward strokes, a bumper ring 4'71 on the upper end of the upper inner body portion 450 contacts stop plates 472 (Fig 4) at the top of the frame 449 to prevent any further movement of the inner body. Continued upward movement of the gear racks 467 then rocks the triangular toggle links 459 to displace the outer ring 452 and base plate 453 upwardly relative to the inner body and against the force of the compression springs 455 so that the fluting fingers 461 and mouth shaping elements 463 are displaced to perform the respective operations on the container body. It should be noted at this point that the control for the air cylinder assembly 419 of the device 416 is regulated relative to the device actuating the gear racks 467 so that the fiuting anvil 421 is positioned within the neck portion of the container body before the final upward movement of the gear racks 467 takes place. Thus, the anvil 421 is positioned to cooperate with the fiuting fingers 461 before the latter are pivoted inwardly'to form the flutes.

In order to rotate the gear rack actuating shafts 469, I

an air cylinder assembly 473 (Fig. 12) is provided and includes a horizontal compressed air operated cylinder 474 mounted on a support bracket 475 carried by the base of the machine. A block or head 476 is secured to the end of the piston rod of the air cylinder 474 and carries horizontal, spaced apart lower and upper gear racks 477 and 478, respectively, with the upper horizontal gear rack 478 being longer and engaging a spur gear 479 adjacent the end of the shaft 469 at the far side of the frame 449 While the lower shorter gear rack 477 meshes with a spur gear 480 on the similar shaft 469 journalled at the near side of the frame 449. The racks 477 and 478 are supported in the area of contact with the related spur gears by suitable rollers 481, and the shaft at the far side of the frame has a sprocket 482 thereon to drive the actuating chain 382 which drives the container transfer assembly 366. Thus, the air cylinder 474 provides the motive power for actuating the transfer assembly 366 as well as the swager assembly 417, and the supply of pressure fluid, or compressed air, to the air cylinder 474 is controlled so that the assembly 366 functions to transfer a container body from the upper turret to the lower turret and the assembly 417 functions to cooperate with the assembly 416 for forming flutes and shaping the mouth of a container residing 12 at station B during the interval that the upper and lower turrets dwell at an indexed position.

When the operations performed at the fiuting, glue applying and mouth shaping station B have been completed, the cell 397 carrying a container body is next moved to a bottom inserting and mouth shaping station C (Fig. 4) by further indexing the lower turret turntable one-sixth of a revolution. At this station, a bottom punching and inserting assembly 484 (Fig. 2) is located above the turntable, while a second swager assembly 485 (Fig. 4), is located below the turntable 394 to further shape and smooth the mouth of the container body.

A paper strip is fed to the bottom punching and forming assembly 484 from a paper roll 539 (Figs. 1 and 2) rotatably mounted at the adjacent end of the machine by a feeding device 540 (Fig.2) which intermittently advances the paper strip during the indexing of the lower turret 393.

The next indexing movement of the lower turret turnable 394 carries the container body having a bottom member inserted therein from the bottom punching, forming and inserting station C, at which the mouth is also further shaped, to a bottom spinning station D (Fig. 4), at which the base edge portion of the container body and the flange of the bottom member are rolled together to form a sturdy and leak-proof rolled joint which serves as a support base for the completed container.

To perform this function, a bottom spinner assembly 549 (Fig. 1) is disposed above the lower turret turntable, and a bottom erector assembly 550 (Fig. 4) is disposed below the turntable, both assemblies being located at the bottom spinning station D.

The bottom erector assembly 550 (Fig. 4) operates to support the bottom member of the container body in residence at the bottom spinning station D while the spinner is rolling the base edges thereof.

Further indexing of the lower turret turntable carries the completed container body, in mouth down position, from the bottom spinning station D to the container body ejecting station E (Fig. 4), at which station the container body is pneumatically removed upwardly from its supporting cell by an ejecting assembly 594 (Fig. 4) there located below the turntable 394.

It will be noted that, although the turntable has six cells thereon and is indexed one-sixth of a revolution during each cycle of the machine, only five operating stations are provided along the circular path of travel of the cells. The sixth station F (Fig. 4), following the ejecting station E, is utilized as an inspection or detecting station for determining whether the cell is empty and in condition to receive a container body at the subsequent transfer or loading station A.

Although the devices for performing the glue applying, fluting and mouth shaping operations have been illustrated and described herein in connection with a par ticular paper container making machine, it is apparent that such glue applying, fiuting and mouth shaping devices may be employed in other paper container machines so long as the latter operate to provide a similar container body at the station at which the devices are located.

Further, while a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described and shown in detail, by way of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that changes and modifications, obvious to one skilled in the art, may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bottle shaped container forming machine of the described character having a turntable mounted to rotate in a horizontal plane, a series of container body receiving cells arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship around the peripheral portion of the turntable, several stations arranged successively in spaced relationship adjacent the path of travel of the cells and including a glue applying, fluting and mouth shaping station, and driving mechanism associated with the turntable to effect stage-by-stage advance of the cells to and from residence at the successively arranged stations; devices at the glue applying, fluting and mouth shaping station comprising mechanism supported above said turntable including a frame, a vertical shaft mounted on said frame for axial reciprocation, a fluting anvil on the lower end of said shaft, pressure fluid actuated means operative in synchronism with said driving mechanism to effect the movement of said shaft from an inoperative position in which said anvil is raised above, the base ends of container bodies in said cells to an operative position in which said anvil extends downwardly into a container body and then to return said shaft to its inoperative position during the residence of a cell at the related station, a glue applicator device on said shaft including a radially expansible and contractible tire member, said glue applicator device being movable during the residence of a cell at said related station between an inoperative raised position and an operative lowered position within a container received in said cell at the related station in response to the movements of said shaft, means including said shaft for radially expanding said tire member during the positioning of said glue applicator device at said operative and inoperative positions thereof, a clutch plate rotatably mounted adjacent the inoperative position of said glue applicator device for frictional contact with the latter, means for rotating said clutch plate during said stage-by-stage advance of said cells, means movably supported adjacent said inoperative position of said glue applicator device for transferring glue to the periphery of said tire member, spring means normally urging said glue transferring means to a position remote from said tire member, and electrically energized means for selectively displacing said glue transferring means to a position for engagement with said tire member.

2. In a bottle shaped container forming machine of the described character; devices at the glue applying, fiuting and mouth shaping station according to claim 1, wherein said glue applicator device includes an upper rim and a lower rim engaging above and below said tire member and adapted to radially expand the, latter when said rims are pressed axially together, spring means between said rims for urging the latter axially apart, a hollow tubular member telescoping loosely on said shaft and fixed at its lower end to said lower rim, and cooperating stop means on said frame and said tubular member limiting the downward movement of the latter; and wherein said means for radially expanding said tire member includes an abutment on said shaft engageable with said upper rim from above to urge said rims together dur ing the final increment of downward movement of said shaft and a bearing member rotatable on said shaft at the top of said anvil to engage against said lower rim from below and urge said rims together during the final increment of upward movement of said shaft.

3. In a bottle shaped container forming machine of the described character; devices at the glue applying, fluting and mouth shaping station according to claim 2 and further comprising mechanism supported below said turntable including a housing, a platform member mounted in said housing for vertical reciprocation, an upwardly opening cylindrical support member in said housing above said platform member, compression spring means interposed between said support member and said platform member, a plurality of anvil segments resting on the bottom of said support member and formed to extend loosely into the mouth end of a container at the related station when said segments are radially con tracted, resilient means for normally maintaining said anvil segments in their radially contracted condition, an arbor extending upwardly from said platform member and having a conical end portion for insertion into a central space enclosed by the inner ends of said anvil segments, said support member being designed when raised to telescope over the lower portion of a container body as supported in a cell at said related station, a plurality of swaging elements swingably supported in said cylindrical support member, an outer casing fixed to said platform and telescoping over said cylindrical support member, toggle elements extending through said cylindrical support member and hingedly connecting each of said swaging elements to said outer casing, said spring means normally maintaining said support member and said platform in vertically spaced relationship so that said arbor is withdrawn downwardly from said central space and said swaging elements are swung outwardly, stop means at the top of said housing for limiting the upward movement of said support member, actuating members movable vertically in said housing, toggle means connecting said actuating members to said platform member and. to said support member so that said platform and support members are moved upwardly as a unit when said actuating members are displaced upwardly until said support member engages said stop means and thereafter further up ward displacement of said actuating members effects upward movement of the platform member relative to said support member with increased force, and pressure fluid operated means for manipulating said actuating members in synchronism with said driving mechanism so that said platform and support member are disposed in lowered position during stage-by-stage advance of said cells and are raised to operative positions and thenlowered again during the residence of a cell at said related station.

4. In a paper, bottle shaped container making. machine having a conveyor for carrying successive container bodies past a glue applying station with each container having its base end uppermost above the conveyor and its mouth end extending downwardly below the conveyor; glue applying mechanism comprising a resilient glue applicator member including a, rubber tire which is mounted for reciprocation into and out of a container body at said station and is rotatable at least at the one limit of its reciprocating travel remote from the container body, means operative to rotate said rubber tire at said one limit of the reciprocating travel thereof, means operative to radially expand said tire at the opposite limit of the reciprocating travel thereof, means for transferring a layer of glue to the perimeter of said tire during the latters presence at said one limit of its reciprocating travel and including a reservoir for containing glue, a glue transferring roller dipping into said reservoir and extending from the latter for rolling contact with said rubber tire when the latter is radially expanded and rotated at said one limit of its reciprocating travel, mounting means swingably supporting said reservoir for swinging about an axis which is spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation of said glue transferring roller so that said reservoir is oscillatable to dispose the glue transferring means in operative and inoperative positions thereof, means yieldably urging said glue transferring means to said inoperative position out of contact with the glue applicator member at said one limit of its reciprocating travel, and means for selectively displacing said glue transferring means to its operative position for glue transferring contact with the perimeter of the glue applicator member when the latter is radially expanded at said one limit of its reciprocating travel and including electro-magnetic means, and means connecting said reservoir to said electro-magnetic means so that, when the latter is energized, it overcomes said means yieldably urging the glue transferring means to said inoperative position and swings said reservoir in the direction bringing said glue transferring roller into rolling contact with the rubber tire, and means for manipulating said glue applicator member from said one limit to the other limit of its reciprocating travel and back to said one limit for 15 entry into, and removal from, a container body at said glue applying station.

5. In a paper, bottle shaped container making machine; the combination of a conveyor moving past a container body fluting and mouth shaping station and having means thereon for supporting at least one container body at the outside of the container body and with its base end uppermost, means for driving said conveyor to move said container body supporting means to and from residence at said station, a swaging anvil mounted above said anvil and operative to telescope downwardly into a container body through the base end of the latter, a plurality of anvil segments expandible radially and positioned below said conveyor, each of said anvil segments having a head portion to telescope upwardly into the container body through the mouth end of the latter, a plurality of swaging segments positioned below said conveyor and operative to enclose an exterior section of the container body, means operative to lower and raise said swaging anvil into and out of, respectively, forming engagement with a container body residing at said station, and means acting in synchronism with the last mentioned means and operative to raise said anvil and swaging segments to positions in and around, respectively, the container body residing at said station and to radially expand and contract said raised anvil segments and swaging segments, respectively, with increased force to cooperate with said swaging anvil in shaping the month end of the container body and forming flutes in the latter, and then to lower said anvil and swaging segments out of forming engagement with the container body during the residence of the latter at said station.

6. In a paper, bottle shaped container making machine; the combination of a conveyor moving past a container body fiuting and mouth shaping station and having means thereon for supporting at least one container body at the outside of the container body and with its base end uppermost, means for driving said conveyor to move said container body supporting means to and from residence at said station, a swaging anvil mounted at said station above said conveyor to telescope downwardly into a container body through the base end of the latter, a housing at said station below said conveyor, a vertically reciprocatable platform mounted in said housing, an upwardly opening support member in said housing above said platform member, spring means interposed between said support member and said platform, a plurality of anvil segments movably carried by said support member and formed to extend into the month end of a container body at said station, a plurality of swaging elements movably carried by said support member to extend around a portion of a container body at said station below said conveyor, said spring means normally maintaining said support member and platform in vertically spaced relationship, means connected to said platform and acting in re sponse to relative vertical movement of said platform and support member to displace said anvil segments and swaging elements radially into and out of forming engagement with the related portions of a container body at said station, stop means on said housing to limit the upward movement of said support member, actuating members movable vertically in said housing, toggle means connecting said actuating members to said platform and to said support member so that said platform and support member are moved upwardly as a unit by upward displacement of said actuating members until said support member engages said stop means and thereafter further upward displacement of said actuating members eifects upward movement of said platform relative to said support member with increased force, and means for manipulating said actuating members and swaging anvil in synchronism with each other so that said swaging anvil, anvil segments and swaging elements are moved into and out of forming engagement with a container body during residence of the latter at said station.

7. In a paper, bottle shaped container making machine; the combination of a conveyor moving past a container body fiuting and mouth shaping station and having means thereon for supporting at least one container body at the outside of the container body and with its base end uppermost, means for driving said conveyor to move said container body supporting means to and from residence at said station, a swaging anvil mounted at said station above said conveyor to telescope downwardly into a container body through the base end of the latter, a housing disposed below said turntable at said station, a platform vertically reciprocatable in said housing, an upwardly opening cylindrical support member in said housing above said platform, compression spring means interposed between said support member and platform, a plurality of anvil segments resting on the bottom of said support member and formed to extend loosely into the month end of a container body at said station when said segments are radially contracted, resilient means for normally maintaining said anvil segments in their radially contracted condition, an arbor extending upwardly from said platform and having a conical end portion for insertion into a central space enclosed by the anvil segments, said support member being formed to telescope over the lower portion of a container body supported at said station when said support member is raised, a plurality of swaging elements swingably supported in said cylindrical support member, an outer casing fixed to said platform and telescoping over said support member, toggle links extending through said support member and pivotally connected to said outer casing and swaging ele ments, said compression spring means normally maintaining said platform and support member in vertically spaced apart relationship so that said arbor is withdrawn downwardly from said central space and said swaging elements are swung outwardly, stop means at the top of said housing for limiting the upward movement of said support member, actuating members movable vertically in said housing, toggle means connecting said actuating members to said platform and to said support member so that said platform and support member are moved upwardly as a unit when said actuating members are displaced upwardly until said support member engages said stop means and thereafter further upward displacement of said actuating members effects upward movement of said platform relative to said support member with increased force, and means for manipulating said actuating members and swaging anvil in synchronism with each other so that said swaging anvil, anvil segments and swaging elements are moved into and out of forming engage ment with a container body during residence of the latter at said station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

